Grayheads watch more TV than younger people – enjoy it less
ESPN plans on the World Cup starting the spin for 3D TV
We usually scold our children and teenagers for watching too much TV. It turns out that their grandmas and grandpas spend even more of their time watching TV, and it is not good for them either, according to researchers…
In a study published online in advance of publication…UCSD researchers examined television use in a large, nationally representative sample that was collected by the Center for Health and Well Being at Princeton University. Using an innovative, diary-like assessment strategy called the Day Reconstruction Method, study participants were asked to measure how they spent their time and describe their experience of everyday activities.
“We found that older people spent a great deal more time watching TV than younger people did, yet they enjoyed the experience less,” said first author Colin A. Depp, PhD…“What the study underscored is that alternatives to television as entertainment are needed, especially in older adults…”
The authors were surprised to find that older adults experienced TV watching as less enjoyable than younger people. “It is reasonable to expect that older adults may enjoy TV more than younger ones do, because they have fewer demands on their time. Prior studies also suggest they may use TV to regulate negative emotions,” said co-author Dilip V, Jeste, MD…
“Yet, our study indicates that older adults report lower levels of positive emotion while watching TV when compared to other activities – which is not the case in younger adults.”
The researchers concluded that increasing public awareness of alternatives to TV watching and reducing barriers to alternative activities that are more socially and physically engaging could reduce TV use in older people and diminish the potential for associated negative health effects.
I fit the profile for more TV watching since I retired. The extra is sports and movies.
Accessibility to movies has increased with the addition of high definition quality. My favorite sport – proper football – has three channels dedicated to the task on DirecTV with ESPN adding more every season.
I think I balance much of the viewing time with dedicated walking, tightly scheduled exercise. I try.
My first reaction to the article only concerned the paucity of content for a proper news junkie like me. Since CNN disappeared into the maw of Time-Warner, there is damned little of interest or accuracy or need to watch TV news. DirecTV and their peers still lack the courage to open viewership to worldly sources like BBC World or AlJazeera English.
Do I enjoy it less? Well, it pisses me off more. The content that is.
Holler at your Congress-critter to support Bernie Sanders' bill to 
You know, one thing I can truly say is that– young or old– I have never turned on a tv just to “see what’s on.” What I mean to say is that if there is not something on that I specifically want to see, I don’t select something from what is on and sit there for an hour watching it. I just turn off the tv.
(And if it weren’t for commercial skip, I’d probably watch no tv at all.)
The authors were surprised to find that older adults experienced TV watching as less enjoyable than younger people. “It is reasonable to expect that older adults may enjoy TV more than younger ones do, because they have fewer demands on their time.
This is just illogical on so many levels. The fewer demands you have on your time, the more you should enjoy tv?
Morey
June 30, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Surely the major reason that “older adults” find watching tv less enjoyable is because there’s so much crap on these days.
“Older adults” can remember the times when there were at least some “quality” programs, not the mindless, “celebrity” based, “reality” (pah!) tv shows, and general dross that gets thrown at us in lumps these days.
When the “digital revolution” in tv was announced in the UK we were told “There will be no dumbing down of program content with the advent of all these new channels. Yeah, right !
On the side, doesn’t the 3D cameraman in the picture look like some kind of deranged “tail-gunner” from a cheap sci-fi movie ?
honorarynewfie
July 2, 2010 at 5:15 pm